Locking wedge for freezer dividers



Jan. 21, 1958 Q E. J. BUZICKY 2,820,567

LOCKING WEDGE FOR FREEZER DIVIDERS Filed May 28, 1954 24 2 Z2 Z7 Z4 1 N VENTOR fa fmm d u. MZic/ry ATTORNEY United tates atent LOCKING WEDGE FOR FREEZER nrvmnns Edmund J. Buzicky, St. Paul, Minn., assign-or, by mesne assignments, to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application May 28, 1954, Serial No. 433,191

10 Claims. (Cl. 220-22) This invention relates to a packing wedge for freezer dividers and deals with a means of holding freezer dividers in an adjusted position.

In order to segregate one type of goods within a freezer from another, freezer dividers are often used. These dividers act to divide the floor space into sections so that articles of one type may be placed in one portion of the freezer and goods of another may be placed in another portion. In view of the fact that the articles contained are often of considerable weight, some difficulty is ex perienced in securing these dividers in an adjusted position. It will be understood that the inner surfaces of the freezers are usually smooth and unbroken and are normally not provided with cracks or slides which hold the dividers in a proper position.

The present invention resides in the provision of a locking wedge capable of holding freezer dividers in any adjusted position. Through the use of these Wedges, the tops of the partitions are securely locked in place and the dividers are held from lateral movement. At the same time, the partitions may be easily removed and the locking wedges unlocked when it is desired to do so.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a divider or partition wall for a chest type freezer having an inclined track secured thereto near the upper extremity thereof. Preferably, one such track is provided on each side of the divider at the top thereof. Wedges formed of rubber or resilient plastic are slidably supported upon these tracks, the tracks inclining downwardly and outwardly toward the freezer walls. By pressing downwardly on the wedges, the bottom of the partition or divider is urged against the bottom of the freezer compartment and the wedges lock the partition from lateral movement. As a result, articles of considerable weight may be stored on one side of the divider without moving the same or causing the locking wedges to loosen. A further feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the locking wedges may be easily pulled upwardly when it is desired to unlock them from their locked position. When the wedges are pulled upwardly, x-

the partition is released and it can be lifted from the freezer chest by merely lifting upwardly upon the wedges, the upper sliding movement of the wedges being limited.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a portion of a partition showing this partition or divider locked in position between the Walls of a freezing chest or the like.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of the locking wedges in place upon the partition or divider.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the wedges removed from the divider.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the locking wedge, the position of the section being indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Figure is a sectional diagrammatically through a freezer showing the general manner in which the partition is inserted.

As is indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings, the freezer A includes an interliner having opposed liner walls 10 and 11 a bottom liner wall 12. These liner walls are in spaced relation to casing walls 13 which form the freezer casing. Insulation 14 is positioned between the liner walls and the outer casing so as to prevent the travel of heat into the freezer.

The partition is best illustrated in general by the letter B. The partition is shown as having vertical side frame members 15 and 16 which are connected along their lower ends by a cross connecting member 17. The upper ends of the sides 15 and 16 incline upwardly and inwardly as indicated at 19 and 20 respectively. A cross connecting member 21 connects the upper ends of the inclined members 19 and 20, completing the generally rectangular outer frame.

Vertical frame members 22 are provided extending between the top and bottom of the frame and laterally extending cross members 23 extend between opposite sides of the frame. Feet 24 of rubber or other suitable material may be provided to rest against the bottom 12 of the liner so as to prevent slippage of the bottom of the partition member.

With reference now to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that a flat strip 25 extends along, and is secured to, the outer surface of the inclined portions 19 and 2d of the frame. The tracks 25 extend on either side of the partitions so as to slidably support the Wedges which will be described. The lower end of the strip 25 is turned vertically as indicated at 26 to resist downward movement of the locking wedges beyond a certain point. The upper end 27 of the strip is bent at right angles to the body of the strip so as to act as a stop to imit upward movement of each Wedge. As both of the wedges are identical and as the manner of supporting the wedges on both sides of the freezer is identical, only one wedge is shown in Figure 1.

The wedges are illustrated in general by the letter C and are formed as best illustrated in Figures 3 and-40f the drawings. Each wedge includes a body of resilient material having a bottom end 29 and a right angularly extending vertical edge 30. The vertical edge 30 is rounded or curved at 31- to form a flat top 32 which is parallel to the bottom 29. The fourth side 33 of each wedge C converges toward the side 30 thereof, the angles of the convergence being similar to the angles at which the track or strip 25 assumes with respect to the vertical.

As is best indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the side 33 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 34 extending throughout its length, this groove 34 being of proper width to accommodate the strip 25. Each side 33 is also provided with a pair of inwardly directed opposed flanges 35 and 36 which overlie the groove 34 and extend parallel to the base of the groove. These flanges 35 and 36 are spaced apart a distance suflicient to accommodate the frame portion 19 of the divider frame therebetween.

Each side of the wedge shaped body is provided with a recess 37 therein, the recess being rounded and for the sake of appearance, generally similar in shape to the outer shape of a wedge. These recessess are designed to accommodate the fingers so that the wedges may be lifted by engagement with the fingers.

The wedges C are inserted upon the track 25 at the lower end thereof, the flanges 35 and 36 flexing sufficiently to permit the wedges to manipulate the bend between the main body of the strip and the end 26 thereof.

However, in-viewof the-fact that-the flanges. must flex considerably in order to apply the wedges, the Wedges will not become detached accidentally. As a result, ,the

bent lower end 26"of'the' track 25 resists downward mov ement'ofthewedge'below" the point'o-f bend. The angularly turned track end 27 engages the wedgeflanges 35 and 36, limiting iupwardmovement'of the wedge. AS an alternativemethod of manufacture, the-end 26 of each to insert the divider in the freezing compartment in any" desiredlocation." The divider is placed in'the desired position and adownward force is-exerteduponthe tops of the wedges? This'actioncauses'the wedges to slide downwardly forcing the outer surfaces of'=the' wedges against theliner walls and' somewhat compressing the bodies of the wedges. Once these wedges areforced into place, the top ofthe'partition is securely locked in place: During this"- action; thelower end of the'divider has been pressed againstthe bottom of theliner and, accordingly, the bottom of the divider is held in: place; Either the rubber legs'24or laterally extending" legs may assist in this purpose.

When it is desired to remove 'thedivider'orto change the position'thereof, it is" only necessary to grasp each wedge between the-thumband forefinger of a hand and to raise the wedges upwardly. Thisactionwvithdraws them from their contact'with the wall and permits the I entire divider; to b'e'lifted from thefreezer chestor to be may be made within the scope 'ofthe'foll'owing claims without departingfrom the spirit of the present invention I claim:

p 1. A dividr forchest'type freezersincluding a partition Wall, inclined trackmeans supported near 'the upper extremity of saidwall, said inclined track'meanssloping downwardly and outwardlyand said partition wall having means securedtothe track means and maintaining the inclination thereof; 7 andwedg'e shapedmem'bers slidably supported on said inclined track-"means andslidably-engageable against the walls-of the freezer upon downward movement thereof to bear by. wedging force between said inclined track means and the freezer'walls to 'hold' said divider. in locked position.

4. 2. The constructiondescribed -imclaim Landwimwhich. the partition walls are forarninous.

3. The construction described in claim 1 and in which the wedges are formed of resilient material.

4. The construction described in claim 1 and in which the wedges are formed Of I'BSlllEHlZ compressible material and are compressed by downward movement between the supportingtracks andthefreezer WallSlIt) mount said divider in said freezer. j V I V V V 5. A divider for use inchest. type freezers including a divider frame, a pair of inclined tracks supported by said frame near the upperend thereof, said tracks inclining downwardly and outwardly toward the-freezerv walls, a Wedge shaped "element havingja Vertical wall and an inclined wall slidably mounted on each of said inclined tracks, said wedge shaped element being operable, upon downward movement of the same, to be wedged between its supporting inclined tracks and an" adjacent vertical wall'of the freezer.

6. The construction describedin'claim'fSahdtinwhich said wedge'sare formed 'of resilient compressiblernaterial.

7. The constructiondescribe'd in" claim '5 andinwhich' the wedges include oppositely disposed recesses in oppo site. sides thereof designed to" accommodate the fingers for'lifting'the wedges. V V

8. The construction described in claim 5 and including means at the end'of saidinclinedtracks'for lim'iting' thef sliding "movement of said'wedg'es on-said tr'acks'inb'oth directions. V

9. A" divider for chest 'type freezers including a frame designed to extend transverselyof'the freezer chest'having' the uppermost ends of its sides inclir'n'ng' upwardly and inwardly, a pair of 'inclined' strips supportedlnear'the upperend of'said divider, said strips incliningdownwardly and outwardly toward opposite walls of theffreezer'chest: inconformance with the inclination of said frame sides; a wedged shaped 'body'overlying: each of" said strips and having "a wallwith' the angle: of convergence similar to the angle of the said strip incline, and'inclined flanges extend ing over said strips and supported uponsaid bodyfor slidably supportingsaid body upon 'each' said strip; where= by downward sliding movement'of each wedge'dshap'ed body upon its supporting strip acts towedgewaid body betweenits said. supporting strip and the adjacent freezer wall. I I

10L The'construction described inclaim-9 "and-in which said Iwe'dged shaped bodies"are formed' 'of i resilient corn} pressiblematerial;

References Citedin thefil'e ofthispatent UNTI'ED'STATES PATENTS 

